Police: Man Set Drug Seeker On Fire

TheIndyChannel.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Police say they're looking for a man who allegedly took lighter fluid from a man who wanted cocaine and used the fluid to set him on fire this week.Anthony Eldridge, 22, of Indianapolis, suffered third-degree burns to 50 percent of his body when a man set him on fire on the 4100 block of Brentwood Drive, the Marion County Sheriff's Department said.Eldridge was in serious condition Wednesday at Wishard Memorial Hospital. Authorities said they believe Eldridge was carrying charcoal and lighter fluid on Monday, hoping to exchange the items for crack cocaine. A witness told police that Eldridge approached a man known as "Little Willy" and asked him for the drug.

The witness told police that Little Willy is a drug dealer."Little Willy made the statement that, 'If you let me set you on fire, I'll give you a hit of crack cocaine,' " Marion County sheriff's Capt. Phil Burton said. "Mr. Eldridge stated that, 'No, that's not what I want.' "The witness told authorities that Little Willy took the lighter fluid out of Eldridge's hands, doused him with it and used a lighter to ignite Eldridge's shirt, the sheriff's department said.The witness said he took Eldridge to someone else's apartment, and 911 was called.Police said Little Willy was described as being about 22 years old and about 5 feet 4 inches tall. He weighed about 145 pounds and had a glass eye, police said.